Disabled Veteran Indicted For Theft, False Statements

ST. LOUIS, MO — Donald Crangle, a 57-year-old Army veteran, was indicted in federal court this week on charges of theft of government funds and making false statements. A 1985 back injury sustained while Crangle was on active duty left him disabled, but not unemployable, the Veteran's Administration said. But, after a workplace accident while employed by the St. Louis Public School System, Crangle requested disability benefits from the VA and the Social Security Administration. Those benefits were approved in 2003.

However, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, Crangle began to teach concealed carry classes for the National Rifle Association in 2009 and failed to inform federal agencies. Police seized records showing annual gross earnings of more than $130,000. Crangle made false statements regarding those earnings to the VA and SSA, and fraudulently received more than $314,000 in disability benefits, officials said.

If convicted, Crangle faces up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000 and mandatory restitution.

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